San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1887-07-26

closed again. The elder man dismOunted,
and, leading Gideon TO the blasted cotton
wood, pointed to the piniOned man seated at
its foot with an armed guard over him. lie
looked up at Gideon with an amused smile.
you said 1t was a dying man." said
Gideon, recOiling
He will be dead man in half-an-hOur,"
returned the stranger.
And your
I'VE are the Vigilantes of Alamo. THIS
man." pointing to the prisoner lis a gamb-
Ter who killed man yesterday. We hunted
him here, tried him an hourago, and found
him guilty. The last man We hung here,
three years ago, asked for parsOn. We
brought him the man who used to live where
we found you. SOwe thought we'd give this
man the same show and brought you"
"And If refuse? said Gideon.
The leader shrugged his shoulders. That's
his lookout, not ours. We've given him the
chance. Drive ahead boys" he added
turning TO the others; the parsOn allows he
won't take hand"
Zone moment" said Gideon, in despera-
ton, lone moment for the sake of that God
you have brought me here to invoke in be-
half of this wretched man. One moment for
the sake OF Him in whose presence you
passionate earnestness he pointed out the
vindictive impulse they were. MISLEADING for
divine justice; with pathetic fervency he
fell upon his knees and implOred their mercy
for the culprit. But in vain.
Yer wastin' time on US, said the leader
dryly; "wastin' his time. Hadn't you bet
ter talk to himP"
Gideon rose to his feet, pale and cold. He
may have something to confess. May |
speak with him alOne?' he said gently.
The leader mOtioned to the sentry to fall
back. Gideon placed himself before the
prisoner 80 that in the faint light OF the
campfire the mans figure was partly hid
den by his own. You meant well with
your little bluff, pardner," said the prisoner,
not unkindly, but they've got the cards to
win."
"KneeI down with your back to me-" said
Gideon in low voice. The prisoner fell
on his knees. At the same time he felt
Gideon's hand and the gliding of steel be-
hind his back, and the severed cords hung
loosely on his arms and legs.
"When | lift my voice to God, brother"
said Gideon, softly, drop on your face and
crawl as far as you can in a straight line in
my shadow, then break for the tules. l will
stand between you and the first fire."
Are you madg' said the prisoner. do
you think they won't fire lest they should
hurt your Man! they'll kill you the first
thing"
80 be tiff your chance be better"
Still on his knees, the man grasped
Gideon's two hands in his and devoured him
with his eyes.
you mean it?'
II do"
"Then," said the prisoner quietly, Il
reckon I'll stop and hear what you've got to
say about God until they're ready"
you refuse to fly?'
II reckon l was never better fitted to die
than now" said the prisoner, still grasping
his hand. After a pause he added in lower
tone, II can't pray-but-I think" he hest
tated; 81 think coGld manage to ring in in
hymn"
"Will you try, brother%'
YES"
With their hands tightly clasped together,
Gideon lifted his gentle voice. The air was
a common one, familiar in the local religious
gatherings, and after the first verse one or
two Of the sullen lOOkers-On joined not un-
kindly in the refrain. But, as he went Oh,
the air and words seemed to offer a vague
tAplOoSlOl W lllt Nul lOMtllllS, dlllllda
emotion of the savage cOncOurse, and at the
end of the second verse the refrain aug
| mented in volume and swelled by every
voice in the camp, swept out over the hol-
| low plain.
Ii was met in the distance by a far-Off cry.
With an oath taking the place of his sup
| plication, the leader sprang to his feet But
too late! The cry was repeated as a nearer
clnnoFn of Hata thn MIA
was the tempestuOus onset of furious hoOfs-
dozen shots-the scattering of the embers
of the campfire into a thousand vanishing
sparks even as the lurid gathering of savage
humanity was dispersed and dissipated over
the plain, and Gideon and the prisoner stood
alone. But as the Sheriff of Contra Costa
with his rescuing posse swept by, the man
they had come to save fell forward in
GideoN's arms with bullet in his breast
the Parthian shot of the flying Vigilante
leader
The eager crowd that SuTged around him
with Outstretched helping hands would have
| hustled Gideon aside. But the wounded
man reused himself. and throwing an arm
around the young preachers neck, warned
| them back with the other STAND back"
he gasped. ''Ie risked his life for mine |!
Look at him, boys? Wanted ter stand up
'twixt them hounds and me and draw their
fire on himself! Amt he just help He
stopped; an apologize smile crossed his lips.
81 clean forgot pardner; but it's all right
| l said | was ready to go; and | am" His
| arm Slipped from GidcOn's neck; he slid to
the ground; he had tainted
A dark militaTy-lOOking man pushed his
way through the crOwd-the surgeon, one of
the posse, accompanied by younger man
fastidiously dressed The former bent over
the unconscious prisoner, and tore open his
| shirt; the latter followed his movements
with flush of anxious inquiry in his hand
some, careless face. After a moments pause
the surgeon, without looking up, answered
the young mans mute questioning Better
send the Sheriff here at once Jack"
He is here" responded the official,
| joining the group.
The surgeon looked up at him. II am
afraid they've put the case out of your juris-
diction, Sheriff." he said grimly. ITS only
a matter Of a day or two at best-perhaps
| only few hours. But he won't live to be
taken back to Jail"
Twill he live to 90 as far as Martinez p
asked the young man addressed as Jack.
with care, perhaps
twill you be responsible for him, Jack
HamlinS" said the Sheriff, suddenly.
81 will"
Then take him. Stay-he's coming to-"
The wounded man slowly opened his eyes.
| They fell upon Jack Hamlin with pleased
look of recognition, but almost instantly and
anxiously glanced around as if seeking an
other. Leaning over him, Jack said gayIy,
They've passed yOu nver to me, old man :;
are you willingg'